Slide fastener guard



Nov. 10, 1959 E. H. KOEHLER 2,911,699

SLIDE FASTENER GUARD Filed Jan, 16, 1957 A T faQ/vf' Y United States Patent() 2,911,699 sLmE FASTENER GUARD Edwin H. Koehler, Oxford, Conn.

Application January 16, 1957, Serial No. 634,502

2 Claims. (Cl. 24205.15)

This invention relates to slide fasteners and more particularly to a slide fastener guard to prevent snagging of the material in the fastener elements during the closing movement.

An object is to provide a guard to prevent the cover ap of a garment from being caught in the fastener during the closing stroke of the slider.

Another object is to provide a guard for the above purpose which is fully concealed by the slider when not in use and which does not interfere with the hook and eye usually used at the top of the zipper path.

Another object is to provide a slide fastener guard of the above type having a neat and pleasing appearance.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent as the nature of the invention is more fully disclosed.

The nature of the invention will be better understood by referring to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which a specific embodiment has been shown for purposes of illustration.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a portion of a slide fastener embodying the present invention, with parts broken away to show the construction;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a partial elevation showing the slide fastener closed with the guard retracted;

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the slide and guard; and

Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawing more in detail, the invention is shown as embodied in a slide fastener comprising a pair of stringers composed of fabric strips 11 carrying fastener elements 12 adapted to interlock when closed. A slider 15 of the usual construction is mounted to close and interlock the fastener elements as it advances. Above the point of closing the stringers 10 spread outwardly in a V formation as is well known in the art.

A housing 16 is disposed over the slider 15 and is formed with downturned flanges 17 having lips 18 crimped into grooves 19 in the outer face Iof the slide to hold die housing 16 in place. The housing is preferably of the same shape as the slider so that as viewed from the front the appearance of the slider is unaltered.

A guard 20 is slidably held between the housing 16 and the top of the slider 15. The guard 20 is of a shape to be concealed within the housing 16 when retracted and is formed with a tongue 21 which when extended as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, lies over the zipper elements 12 at the point of closing. A lug 22 on the slide 20 extends through a slot 23 in the housing 16 to receive a tab 24 for operating the slide.

When the tab 24 is pulled up to close the fastener the tongue 21 is advanced to extended position, and when the tab 24 is pulled down the tongue is retracted within the housing 16.

At the upper end the stringers 10 are provided with a hook 30 and eye 31 for closing the :garment and a pair of flaps 32 and 33 are adapted to overlie and conceal the guard when closed.

This construction is particularly applicable to garments, slip covers or all cases where the slide is concealed by flaps such as 32 and 33, which are made of material which is easily caught in the fastener elements. As shown in Fig. 2 the tongue 21 extends beneath the flaps 32 and 33 at the point of closing of the fastener elements to prevent the aps from catching in the elements. The tongue 21 is also spaced above the path of the fastener elements to prevent material from becoming wedged between the tongues and the elements.

When the tab 24 is pulled upwardly to close the fastener the guard 20 and tongue 21 are advanced to protective position as above described. However, when the tab 24 is pulled down to locking position the tongue 20 is retracted to fully concealed position and exposes the hook 30 and eye 31 for fastening.

Obviously the housing can be secured to the slider in other ways as by spot Welding or may be made integral therewith. The tongue extends above the path of the fastener elements at the point of closing and suiciently in advance thereof to protect the overlying material.

In some instances the guard may be xedly secured to the slider in which case the hook and eye should be spaced in advance of the tongue so as to be accessible when the slider is fully advanced.

What is claimed is:

1. A slide fastener of the character described comprising a pair of flexible stringers carrying cooperating interlocking fastener elements, a slider by which said elements are moved into and out of interlocking closing engagement, a housing secured to the front Wall of said slider, an elongated longitudinal slot in the front Wall of said housing, a guard tongue slidably mounted in said hous ing, said tongue being adapted to be projected out from said housing beyond said slider during closing movement of said slider and to be retracted back into said housing during opening movement of said slider, a lug secured to said tongue, said lug extending out through said elongated slot for longitudinal reciprocal movement therein, a pull tab attached to said lug for actuating said slider and for projecting and retracting said tongue, a pair of exible fabric concealing flaps one of which is secured to each of said stringers, said flaps overlying said fastener elments and said slider, said tongue being of sufficient width to cover said fastener elements adjacent the point of closing and when advanced during closing to be disposed under said aps and over said fastener elements at the point of closing.

2. A slide fastener of the character described comprising a pair of flexible stringers carrying cooperating interlocking fastener elements, a slider by which said elements are moved into and out of interlocking closing engagement, a housing secured to the front wall of said slider, an elongated longitudinal slot in the front wall of said housing, a guard tongue slidably mounted in said housing, said tongue being adapted to be projected out from said housing beyond said slider during closing movement of said slider and to be retracted back into said housing Patented Nov. 10, 19x59 during opening, movement of said slider, a lug secured References Cited in the le of this patent to said tongue, said lug extending out through said elongated slot for longitudinal reciprocal movement therein, UNITED STATES PATENTS a pull tab attached to said lug for actuating said slider 1,655,982 Binns Jan. 10, 1928 and for projecting and retracting said tongue, flexible 5 2,178,949 Brozek Nov. 7, 1939 fabric concealing means overlying said fastener elements 2,214,704 Bailey Sept. 10, 1940 and said slider, said tongue being of sufficient width to 2,456,822 Engel Dec. 21, 1948 cover said fastener elements at the point of closing and 2,657,444 Bashover Nov. 3, 1953 when projected during closing to be disposed under said 2,677,162 Foltis L May 4, 1954 concealing means and over said fastener elements at the 10 2,686,948 Schuchardt Aug. 24, 1954 2,694,243 Ulrich Nov. 16, 1954 point of closing. 

